Minolon
Kowa Co., a leading pharmaceutical company, has unveiled a groundbreaking new textile called Minolon, crafted from the remarkable silk of bagworm moth larvae. This exceptional material boasts exceptional durability and eco-friendliness, making it a potential game-changer in various industries.
Minolon's development is a collaborative effort between Kowa and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), leveraging NARO's expertise in silkworms. Bagworm silk surpasses even spider silk in terms of strength and resilience. Through innovative breeding and rearing techniques, Kowa and NARO have successfully cultivated millions of bagworms, enabling them to induce silk production on demand.
Minolon's applications extend to diverse fields, including sporting goods, automobiles, aircraft, and smartphones. Its exceptional strength makes it ideal for enhancing the durability of products like golf clubs, skis, and rackets. Kowa has partnered with a major sports equipment manufacturer to launch a Minolon-based product as early as next month.
Furthermore, Minolon's eco-friendly production process, devoid of carbon dioxide emissions, positions it as a sustainable alternative to conventional textiles. Kowa envisions supplying Minolon to automobile, aircraft, and smartphone manufacturers, contributing to a greener future.
The company is exploring production facilities in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, with potential investments reaching tens of billions of yen. Kowa's President and CEO, Yoshihiro Miwa, expressed his confidence in Minolon's transformative potential, stating, "Bagworm silk is strong and eco-friendly. This new material can replace other existing textiles and has the potential to change the world.